Fulfill Your Hiking Dream! Here to help fellow hikers by offering wisdom, ideas, and lessons learned from a two-time AT North and South, Long Trail, Foothills Trail and Shenandoah 500 miler completions, Ridgerunner, Speaker, and Author

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Product Review - Swedish FireStarter Knife

Light My Fire is known in hiking circles for its spork - a fork/ spoon combo for eating in the field. When I was asked to review and test its new FireStarter Knife, I was eager to oblige.

As stated on the website the knife "offers" these features:

flexible and sturdy profile-grounded blade.

Sheath with clip.

High-friction rubber handle

Includes an original Swedish FireSteel®
firestarter;

Lights campfires, gas-stoves, gas-barbecues.

Works equally well when wet.

Predictable performance at all altitudes.

Produces a 2,980°C (5,400°F) spark.

I decided for the test, what better way than to allow my BSA Scoutmaster and husband to take it along on his recent backpacking adventure with 15 scouts and their dads to the Big Schloss Wilderness of West Virginia.

The user liked the lightweight plastic sheath protected the blade from accidentally cutting packs and users as this knife does not collapse like a jackknife. The knife proved sharp when whittling roasting sticks for marshmellows or for opening dinner packages.

In removing the flint located at the tip of the handle, the user found it difficult to twist off unless the knife is completely out of its protective sheath. This gave a good enough grip on the knife to twist and remove the flint but leaves the user open to possible injury with the sharp blade exposed. The flint delivered a good set of sparks when stroked with the knife. However the user was unable to light his canister "pocket rocket" stove with the sparks generated, despite numerous tries in the field. A good amount of gas was emitted also. The user then attempted to light his backyard grill and was able to ignite the burner after four tries. Unfortunately it required upping the propane and could pose a fire hazard. The user suggested perhaps better instructions with how to actually safely use the flint would be appropriate rather than just a few lines on the back of the packaging.

This is a comparatively lightweight, all purpose, non-folding knife encased its own colored plastic sheath. The blade of the knife performed adequately but the fire starting capability with the flint fell short on our test.